It's official: as first reported last week, industry veteran Charlie Walk has joined Republic Records as EVP of the label, focusing on overseeing the Marketing, Promotion and Publicity departments. He will report to Co-Founder/CEO Monte Lipman and Co-Founder/President Avery Lipman.

Walk went from his post as President of Epic Records to founder of JWALK in 2009. This full-service advertising and marketing firm on Madison Avenue specializes in elevating brands to universal renown through inventive strategic partnerships.

Walk comments, "Having a front row seat as a consumer and a music executive over the past 20 years, I had the opportunity to watch Republic turn into the most competitive, forward-thinking, modern label in the business. They truly understand the meaning of the word 'partner', as they have forged inventive partnerships with some of the best entrepreneurs in music. They've also managed to preserve an independent spirit within the massive scope of a major label. That ethos has led them to be the most important competitor in the modern landscape, and it drew me to the company. Together, we can help the transformation of the music business with amazing executives, talent, and partners. I believe in the connection and integration of every facet so that everything is working in unison. No two artists break the same way and I'm here to help break new artists and expand the growth of our flagship superstars. I want to thank Lucian Grainge, Barry Weiss, Monte and Avery Lipman for giving me an opportunity to be part of the greatest music company in the world."

Monte Lipman states, "In the 25 years Iíve known him, itís hard to imagine anyone more competitive, colorful, and fearless then Charlie Walk. With parallel trajectories early in our careers, Iíve always found myself competing against Charlie for nearly two decades as we both pursued common goals. More than the success heís had as a record executive, Iím even more impressed with his entrepreneurial spirit and ability to launch a thriving business of his own, in the unforgiving world of Advertising and Marketing. I am thrilled to have Charlie join the executive ranks at Republic Records."

Walk began his career as a college marketing representative for Sony Music, while attending Boston University's School of Management. Upon graduating in 1990, he joined Sony as a full-time marketing and promotion manager. He ascended through the company's ranks for nearly a decade until he became head of the promotion division. In 1999, he was named the label's EVP of Marketing and Promotion. He worked directly with the likes of Beyonce, Aerosmith, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Will Smith, John Legend, The Fugees, Lauryn Hill, WyclefJean, Maxwell and more. Walk was then appointed president of Epic Records in 2006. While at Epic for three years, he helped foster the careers of superstars such as Michael Jackson, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Ozzy Osbourne, Fiona Apple and Sade, while emphasizing and developing young acts such as The Script, The Fray, Sean Kingston and Natasha Bedingfield. At the end of 2008, he left the company to focus on JWALK.